UFC fighter Reza Madadi arrested on suspicion of burglary in Sweden

UFC lightweight Reza Madadi was arrested Friday in his adopted country of Sweden after a high-speed car chase that followed an alleged burglary.

Swedish tabloid Ekspressen reported Sunday that the fighter and an associate allegedly broke into a designer handbag store before making off with $150,000 (U.S.) worth of stolen goods.

Madadi and the associate face charges of aggravated theft and abetting larceny, according to Swedish authorities. If convicted, they face up to six years in jail. Prosecutors will decide today whether to detain or release them.

“I cannot say much more until we see how this evolves,” Fialdini told Ekspressen.

A UFC official told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the promotion is aware of the situation but is awaiting further information before commenting. Madadi’s manager could not be reached for comment.

During the alleged burglary, which took place at a Bottega Veneta store, surveillance cameras captured three people coming into the store after breaking a window with a metal object. It reportedly took them several minutes to gain access, after which they took the most expensive items and got in a getaway car. Police gave chase and then apprehended the suspects.

The news comes one month after Madadi (13-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) earned a triumphant win over Michael Johnson at UFC on FUEL TV 9 in Stockholm. After nearly being knocked out in the fight’s first round, he staged a late-fight comeback and in the third round secured a D’Arce choke that won him a $60,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus.

At the fight’s weigh-ins, Madadi instigated a shoving match with Johnson but said he was just getting hyped up for the competition.

In contrast to his intense staredowns, Madadi often is elated during his interviews. He stands at 2-1 inside the octagon and has been a crowd favorite in two appearances on his native soil.